In Buffalo, the Colorado Avalanche’s Andre Burakovsky picked up a goal and four points Tuesday night and the Avs struck four times in the middle frame to end the suspense of a 2-1 game for a 6-1 over the Sabres.
Valeri Nichushkin had goal for the Avalanche – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“I think I’ve been fitting in pretty good with this team. I like everyone and everyone’s been good to me, so that helps. I’m feeling comfortable here,” Burakovsky said. “Just tonight, I think our line (with center Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin) had a good game. We’re taking care of the opportunities we got. When we got one, we put it in the back of the net, and that doesn’t happen too often, so good job by everyone in here.”
Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves in the win.
Sam Reinhart scored the lone Sabres goal.
“I think it’s all coming down to the players at this point,” Reinhart said. “I think that the systems and the game plans that are set out for us give us an opportunity to have success. I think it goes back to what I’m trying to preach here. Guys need to demand more out of themselves, and a lot of guys need to step the [heck] up.”
Samuel Girard, Nichushkin, Kadri, Nikita Zadorov , and Mikko Rantanen all scored for the Avs.
“We have the keys that we need to have a successful line,” Burakovsky said. “We’ve got [Valeri Nichushkin], he’s like a horse out there, it’s tough to get the puck from him. He’s working really hard and making plays, and he’s having a really good year too. Obviously, [Nazem Kadri] making all the plays, so good with the puck and finding open lanes and just give it to us. For me, I’m just trying to give some speed to the line and try to make plays, and today it worked out pretty good.”
[WATCH: All Avalanche vs. Sabres highlights]
Carter Hutton got the start for the Sabres, but surrendered five goals and made just eight saves before getting the hook.
“That was the thing tonight, nothing went right,” defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen said. “We didn’t play good enough. We didn’t work hard enough, and obviously we didn’t play good enough defense.”
Jonas Johansson did mop up duty in NHL debut and who made 13 saves.
“I don’t think it’s fair to put this on Carter,” Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said. “People look at the shot clock, but they out-chanced us, they out-chanced us even though the shots were quite equal there. It wouldn’t be fair to put this one on him, it’s all of us — coaches, players — all of us together. This is on all of us. We need to pull together and react to this. We have a game here at home in two nights (against the Detroit Red Wings). We need to show a different side, for sure.”
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